Ericsson has successfully demonstrated proof of concept (PoC) of its Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) in a joint effort with Japanese operator NTT DOCOMO and a number of other providers.

NFV is a network architecture concept that proposes using technologies for IT virtualization to virtualize network node functions that can be connected to create communication services.

During the PoC process, Ericsson activated its virtualized Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) on another vender's orchestration platform, which was chosen by NTT DOCOMO successfully, with vEPCs from another vendor successfully activated on Ericsson's orchestration platform.

NTT DOCOMO has led this mutual collaboration, with the vendors providing open NFV products to be combined at several test beds during the period. NTT DOCOMO is seeking to evaluate the possibility of an open NFV architecture using global standard environments.